Fabric edge-folding and pressing machine



Sept. 2, 1952 D. GoLDBr-:RG

FOLDING AND PRESSING MACHINE FABRIC E'DGE- 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 29, 1949 INVENTOIL DFW/AD oL DBERG H TTORNE Y Sept. 2, 1952 D. GoLDBi-:RG

FOLDING AND PRESSING MACHINE FABRIC EDGE Filed Oct. 29, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR. 0H v/D CoLDB-RG HrroRA/EY Sept. 2, 1952 D. GoLDBl-:RG

FABRIC EDGE-FOLDING AND PREssING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 29, 1949 @www MWNN Www@ NWN J m INVENToR. DFI V/p oLDBERa /f HTTORNEY Sept. 2, 1952 D. GOLDBERG FABRIC EDGE-FOLDING AND PRESSING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed 001;. 29., 1949 INVENTOR.

DHV/D GoLoBL-RG FirToR/VIEY of the work-blank the machine is suitably secured to the top of 1 a table T and comprises a supporting frame I on which is mounted a base'mernber II which, Y

more particularly shown in Figs. 2 and 5, lisr provided with a relatively largel opening I2 of suitable size and shape to receive and have loosely fitted thereinto an upwardly movable pressing or ironing plate I3 which is preferablyv of similar shape and is adapted to be suitably heated asl hereinafter more particularly specied. Saidi opening I2 and plate I3 in the instant embodiiment of this invention are rectangular in shape and are of sufficient size or area to enable the ironing or pressing of work-blanks such as shown inFigs. and 11.

Mounted in the machine in superposed and spaced relationship to thebase member II is a top member I5, a horizontally disposed space I6 being thus provided between the members III and I5, and the top member I5 is provided with a blank-receiving opening II (see Figs. 2 1and 3) registering vertically with the opening I2 and the pressing or ironing plate I3 but of smaller size. The opening I1 is preferably formed `in the general shape of a work-blank I4 such as illustrated in Fig. 10 but is contracted and somewhat smaller than theblank I4 in order to enable the proper positioningwithin the said opening of the blank I4 with the edge IIIa thereof (see Fig. 1l) in raised or upright positions, which "edges are' subsequently to be folded as hereinafter specied. `This opening I1 is adapted to receive and perkmitthe downward and upward movement therethrough in substantially flat or'horizontal posiltion of a thin clamping plate I9 adapted in de- 'pressed position within the machine to clamp the work-piece or blank `AIII against the pressing or ironing plate I3. The clamping plate I8 is also of a shape'and size substantially corresponding 'with' the outline of the folded work-piece as shown inFig. 1l and with the outline of said opening jI'I and is the member about which-the edgefolds in the work-blank are made. Said plate I8 closely fits said opening I'I, space preferably being left at its edges only for the thickness of the fabric of the work-blank.

As shown, the clamp plate I8 is suitably mountedon and movable with a pivoted or hinged manually depressible and spring-raised-operating lever I9 hinged as shown at I9a at the rear kside, of the machine and adapted to be elevated orl raised and to benormally held in elevated position by a spiral spring stretched between a fixed point 22 on the frame of the machine and arr-'adjustable hook 2| to enableV regulation of the tension of the spring 20. In Fig. 1, the operating lever is shown in elevated position and in Fig. 2 it is shown in depressed position, 'a handle or knob I9b being provided at the end of the lever for manual engagement by an operator for movement of the lever from raised position of Fig. l to the lowered position of Fig. 2. The clamping plate I8 per se has .its central portion unitarily mounted on and fastened to a mounting or carrier member Ifl with its edges free. I8b-I8b, andsaid` plate I8 together with said vmounting screws or studs 23,- 23f yare -at their -lower endsA secured tosaid plate ZIB and to its mounting or carrier member I8L1 and blocks I8b,

, I 8b, and these studs are then passed through registering holes in a lever spacing block I9c and in said lever I9, said slight shifting relative movement being obtained by making the holes in the Said carrier plate has spacer blocks lever and its spacing block slightly larger in diameter than the, shanks of the studs 23, 23 and said resilient holding being accomplished by positioning spiral expansion spring 23h-23" on said studs or screws 23-23 between heads 23a-23e thereof and the upper surface of the lever I9. The raising movement of the lever I9 `by the spring 2li4 is, as shown, cushioned by 'fastening an outwardly curved spring 24 on the frame of the machine and providing an adjustable stop member 25 on said lever I9 which is positioned on an extension I9d of saidv lever and ,extends at the opposite side of the hinge pintle I9=1 so as to engage' said spring 24 at the end of the upward movement lof the lever I9.

Edge-folding mechanism comprising flat plates 25, 25EL are s lidably mounted in the space I6 between the members II and I5 andabove the pressing or ironing plate I9 and these plates are adapted to slide above or overfthe edges ofthe clamping plate I8 to produce the edgefolds I4a in the blank I4 and to engage and vre'- leasably lock said clamping plate in'its depressed position. As illustrated, the sectional folderplate members v25--252L have overlapped sections adjacent to the ront'of the'machine and a pusher-plate 25 is so positioned in the space I6 at the front of the machine as to cause its rear edge to engage the folder-plate members 25, 25 'and move them into contracted positions to fold the edges of a blank and to move, as more particularly illustrated in full lines in Fig. 5 and in dotted lines in Fig. Bywhile its forward edge extends beyond the forward edge of the supporting frame I0 and is provided'at said forward edge with a downwardly extending flange 252L arranged inualignment and operative engagement with one end of an voperating lever element 2Gb pivoted'betwee'n itsendsA and having on its power arm a cam surface engageable by treadle-actuated operating vmechanism adapted to move this pusher-plate'26 inwardly' to force the plates 25, 25a'into fold-making and clamping plate engaging position andl this inward movement of the pusher-plate 26 by the lever 26b is arranged'in suitably timed relationship with theV dnvnward movement of 'a treadle-actuated ,operating` leverk for causing the upward movement of .y they presser plate :asv hereinafter more particularly'specified. f 'j' y In initial position ofthe plate lmembers 25, 25a, the edge-sash; 25e-25d andzse will be positioned in substantial yalignment withthe edges of the opening lI'I'and the overlapped sectionsA preferably comprise. transversely overlapping neck` portions of reduced thickness to provide thin slidably engaged neck flanges 25f--g25 as shown in Fig. 9, which t vwithin the space I6-and are movable therein Without binding,

In the preferred embodiment of my invention illustrated, the top surfaces of theplatesl 25,-25 andof the plate 26 are provided with anti-friction'teats or protuberancesgl tol `facilitate the 25mm-tbe movement thereofwithin the space. IGandalso toma-inteinthose'surfaces-in properlyspaced relatibnsh-ip to the under surface of the topf plate or-member Ifand to reduce friction therebetween during operative movements of such plates.

' The vedge-folding plate members 25"--25i are guided andL have their movements limitedl to cause the edges 25M-5c to move toward each other and the edges 25e-25d to simultaneously move inwardly to contract the space between the edges 25h" and 25 and between the edges 25-25e and the rear edge of the blank-receiving opening IT and in such movement toy fold the edges of the blanks and tol engage over the edges of the clamping plate, and'as'illustrated said plate members 25", 25e are provided with two pairs ofoppositely inclined guide slots 25h which cooperate with iixed screws orstuds 25E connected'with the base memberV I2" and extend `upwardly" "therefrom, These members 25, 25'al upon release of pressure of thevpusher-plate; are preferably automatically retracted or' moved into initial position by springs M1/having ends connected to fixed points on the ff'rameof themachineand at opposite ends connected with npins -25zr fastened to 'said plates and extending downwardly through circular holes I-I in thebaseplateIIL The pusher-plate 26 is also retracted andV moved= to initial position by a spring 261K-WhichV is connected at'one end to a iixed point onv the machine frame and hasA its opposite end-connected to a downwardly extending pin 26?;

The machine is provided with Ysuitable heater elements for: vapplying heat to Vthe pressing or iron-ing plate I-'3'Yf'or transmission to the work- Blankand, asl shown, a pair of electric heater elements 28', Haare/.mounted `on and carried by the lower Vsurface of said plate, being fastened byscrews- 2'9 and fed by electric currentwires- 30 connected to any suitable source of electricity not shown.

The pressing and ironing plate I3 'is normally `held and supported on'Y the endsV ofadjustable studsor screws 32, 32 in a horizontal lposition and partially extending into theopening l2. A transverse beamz member 33` suitably connected to the baseimemberby spacers-34 and screws or studs' 35 supports-the screws132', 32. Said pres- 'sing' plate` I3 is forcibly moved orv pressed upwardly into ironing position by an operating lever-3|. This 1ever'3l ispreferably'mountedat the middle ofV the machine in alignment with the flange 26e-of thefpusherplate-and, as shown, is pivotally and adjustably mounted between its ends on a stud 3'6 having V mounted `thereon a spring 36 and washer 36b adapted normally to maintain said lever 3`=I in horizontal position,A and iid-provide a relatively shortA rearwardly extending" pressureapplying arm 3Ia` anda forwardly extending depressible power arm 3|b extending to` and beyond the front supporting members of themachine. The'rearwardly extending arm 3 Ia has: adjustably' mounted thereon a stud 31 having anadjustably mounted semi-spherical end 31a,

'thespl'ierical` surfacev of which engages the plate If3lat its center and isadapted upon depression of the forwardly extending power arm 3Ib toy apply equalpressure lon all parts of the plate I3 land tdforce the same into pressingv and ironing position while said forwardly extending power arm 3?'Irextends to the front of the machine beyond the frame IIJ and into adjacency with said ilange 2637015 the pushe r-platel 26 to enable-conjoint and successive operation of said'Ypusher-platelever said presser-plate` power," lever 3 I A lever arm 42 is thus provided surfaces are so positioned asI to cause onel ofi-'ts cam surfaces 38h tol engage the cam surface-.at the power end of said operating'- lever element 216 to move` the pusher-plate inwardly andthe other cam surface 38h' in continuous sequence-to successively engage l'said forwardly extendingfarm 3`Ibto=depressthe same when the power arm 'of said member 38 is pivotallymoved byfa manually actuated treadle (not show-n)l which--is-cennected by-chain 39' to the outer end of theconnecting lever arm 38 of said combined leveranddoubleacting cam member 38, said connecting armw also having connected thereto `a pair of retracting springs: 401, the members ofwhich arestret'ched at opposite sides of said leverarmiifibetween iixed points on the frame of the' machineA and oppositelydisposed projections on said member '3'8 positionedl between said outer en d'of the-anny and the pivot-bolt 38d.

Means is provided for"l engaging, latchingand retaining the lever 3'I` in its lowered'position to latch or lock the pressingI elements vofthel machine in pressing position immediately upony com- Ipletion of the clamping i and' edge-.folding Aoperations ancl vthus to freethe operator from the 'necessity' oi" constant manual pressure on the treadle, to save-his timek and energy and toenable him toattend to othery duties orto operate additional machines, and we preferably employ automatically engaging' latchingmeans combined with a manually-releasable member extending to the* upper end of the machine. With these ends in view, oscillating hookY 4I is preferably pivoted on apivot daV xed in the frame I0`be`- neath thelowerinost point of movement-of the lever 3I and is spring-pressed to move into and outl of engagement with the leverV 3l upondepression thereof to itsV lowerrnos't limit'. `This pivoted hook preferably has a slip-nose arranged in Vthe-path of movement of theV leverto enable automatic engagement with 'the lever upon de;- pression thereof and is preferablywintegrally connected with a horizontally disposed extension lever arm 42 toenable manipulationof'sai'd hook. which is pivoted at'one end-v on vsaid pivot' III*i and has its4 opposite end connected with a vertical spring-raisediop` erating rod' 43 extending to the top ofthe frame of' themachinefanol :provided there with knob 43,'

depressilc'ileY by the operator toy release the hook and' permit the lever 3I to-beraised tow release the pressing and clamping mechani`sm-- withffa consequent' elevation of the lever I9`.

Thevertical rod 43 isf-mounted in-bearings 43, 43a and a spring 4-3b'encircles said rod, abuts-'at one end against' a bearing and at'th'e other" end isconnected with said rod '-431 I'he'rod 43Yi'sthus held in the' bearings and automatically raised by the spring 43h' tokeep thepivoted-e'nd of the lever arm'42 up andthe nose of the oscillating hooky in position toi-'be engaged automatically upon depression ofthe lever 3l. I V

In the preferred embodiment of my, invention shown, the' current to the electrical heating elements is' capable* of being turned` on" and" olfand also suitably modified torregulate the heat by a conventional switch and regulating element S. Suitable stationary blank guiding strips y, y', g2 and g3 are positioned at the forward end and sides of the blank receiving opening and in parallel alignment with the edges thereof and a movable end strip g? is slidably and adjustably mounted onk the side strips g, g to enable adjustment of the length of the work-blank.

In operation, the heating switch and regulating element are iirst operated to heat the pressing plate, and assuming the yparts to be in the position illustrated in Fig. 1, the work-piece is properly positioned in the work receiving opening |1 and in relationship to the blank guiding strips g, Ag', g2, g3 and g4, the lever I9 is depressed by the hand of the operator to move the clamping plate into an initial lowered position to engage the work-piece, and while holding this lever and plate by hand, foot pressure by the operator on a conventional treadle (not shown) will through the chain 39 swing the combined lever and double-acting cam 38. Movement of this double-acting cam will in a single continuous movement but in proper successive sequence move the cam-lever to move the pusher-plate inwardly and also will depress the control lever 3| for the ironing plate. The movement of the pusherplate, in turn, causes the folding plates to move over the clamping plate and to fold the work- 1 piece. Depression of the lever 3| raises the ironing plate into tight ironing or pressing engagement with the Work-piece. Movement of said lever 3| is preferably guided in a slot IBC in an apron plate Illb at the front of the machine. During depression said lever 3| will thus engage the inclined slip-nose of the spring-actuated oscillating hook to oscillate the same on its pivot 4|a, and to move the integrally connected extension lever arm 42 against the action of the spring 431. Upon movement of the lever 3| below the slip-nose of the pivoted hook, the said spring 43b will press the hook into engagement with said lever 3| to releasably hold the same in its lowermost depressed position, with the ironing plate forced upwardly into tight ironing engagement with a work-piece beneath the clamping plate. Upon Vsuch engagement of the oscillating hook 4|, the

lclamping and ironing parts of the machine will be held in ironing position; manual pressure will `be removed from the treadle and the cam member 38 will be returned by springs 40 to the position shown in Fig. 1 to free the path of return movement of the lever 3|b when engagement thereof by said oscillating hook 4| is released. l

Such ironing usually requires a period of time, and during this time period the operator is free to proceed with other operations or with work on another machine if desired. When the pressing or ironing operation is completed, the operator merely depresses the knob 43 against the action of the spring 43b to release the oscillating hook from the control lever arm 3 |b of the ironing plate. Manual tension on the cable-acting cam l38 having been theretofore relieved, and

said cam having been automatically moved upwardly by the springs 46 out of the path of the lever 3|, the inner power-applying arm of said lever 3| will be moved downwardly by the spring 36a to release the pressure through the stud 31 against the plate I3, thus permitting the ironing plate to move downwardly away from the workblank. .The stress by the cam member 40 on the operating lever 26b of the pusher-plate having l been relieved by the upward' movement of the double-acting cam38, the spring 26x will move the pusher-plate 26 and its operating lever 26b to'their outwardly extended positions. The upward'movement of the lever 3.8C of the cam member 38 is limited by projection 44a on the xed forwardly projecting plate 44. The outward movement of the pusher-plate 26 having moved itsoperating lever 2,55b outwardly, the movement of these parts will be limited by a fixed pin 44b on said forwardly projecting plate 44. The edgefolding plates will simultaneously be moved to theirV extended positions by their operating springs 25g thus releasing the clamping plate I8 and permitting the lever I9 carrying said clamping plate i8 to be automatically raised into the normally inoperative position shown in Fig'. 1 by spring 20.

Having described my invention, I claim: y 1. Afabric edge-folding and pressing machine comprising a supporting frame member having a receiving opening for a work-blank, a workclampingv member movable into said receiving opening to engage a work-blank mounted therein,Y edge-folding plates slidably mounted in said supporting frame member and operable to fold the-edges of said work-blank and to engage over the edges of said work-clamping member, a pusher member slidably mounted to engage at one edge with said edge-folding plates within said supportingv frame member, a pressing and irnong plate mounted in said supporting frame member and movable into engagement with a work-blank mounted in said opening, a control lever movable to move the pressing and ironing plate into pressing position, operating means for successively moving said pusher-plate and said control lever into operative positions, and releasable engaging means for retaining said pusherplate and control lever in their operative positions.

2. A fabric edge-folding and pressingl machine as claimed in claim l in which said operating means comprises a single pivoted cam member having operative connections with said control lever and said pusher member.

3. A fabric edge-folding and pressing machine comprising a supporting frame member'having .a receiving opening for a work-blank, a work- .clamping member movable into said receiving opening to engage a work-blank mounted therein, edge-folding plates sliclably mounted in said supporting frame member and operable to fold the edges of said work-blank and to engage over the edges of said work-clamping member, a pusher member slidably mounted to engage at one edge with said edge-folding plates within said supporting frame member and having an exten- 4sion portion projecting beyond an edge thereof, a pressing and ironing plate mounted in said supporting frame member and movable into engagement with a work-blank mounted-inl said opening, a control ylever having an extension por tion and movable to move the pressing and ironing plate into pressing position, said extension portion projecting beyond said supporting frame member into proximity with the extension portion of said pusher-plate, operating means for successively moving said pusher-plate and said control lever into operative positions, and releasable Y engaging means for retaining said pusher-plate and control lever in their operative positions.

4. -A fabric edge-folding and pressing machine as claimed in claim 3 in which said operating means comprisesla single pivoted camjmember having operative connections with the extension portions of said control lever and said pusher member.

5. A fabric edge-folding and pressing machine comprising a supporting frame member having a receiving opening for a work-blank, a workclamping member movable into said receiving opening to engage a work-blank mounted therein, edge-folding plates slidably mounted in said supporting frame member and operable to fold the edges of said Work-blank and to engage over the edges of said Work-clamping member, a pusher member slidably mounted to engage at one edge With said edge-folding plates within said supporting frame member and having an extension portion projecting beyond an edge thereof, a pressing and ironing plate mounted in said supporting frame member and movable into engagement with a work-blank mounted in said opening, a control lever having an extension portion and movable to move the pressing and ironing plate into pressing position, said extension portion projecting beyond said supporting frame member into proximity with the extension portion of said pusher-plate, operating means for successively moving said pusher-plate and said control lever into operative positions, and releasable engaging means for retaining said pusherplate and control lever in their operative positions, and means for manually releasing said releasable engaging means to permit automatic movement of said members to inoperative positions.

6. A fabric edge-folding and pressing machine comprising a supporting frame member having a receiving opening for a work-blank, a workclamping member movable into said receiving opening to engage a work-blank mounted therein, edge-folding plates slidably mounted in said supporting frame member and movable to fold the edges of said Work-blank and to engage over the edges of said work-clamping member, a pusher member slidably mounted in said supporting frame member for moving said edge-folding plates and having an engageable extension portion projecting beyond an edge of said frame member, a pressing and ironing plate suitably mounted in said supporting frame member, a depressible control lever having an extension portion and movable to move the pressing and ironing plate into pressing position, mechanism operable upon the clamping and edge-folding of the Work-blank for moving the pressing plate into pressing position against said clamping plate, and

10 means operable upon depression of said control lever for automatically latching the same in such depressed position,

7. A fabric edge-folding and pressing machine, a supporting frame member having a receiving opening for a work-blank, a work-clamping member movable to engage a Work-blank in said receiving opening, edge-folding mechanism movable to fold said Work-blank, a member for controlling the movement of said edge-folding mechanism, a pressing mechanism, a control lever member adapted upon depression to move said pressing mechanism to apply ironing pressure to the work-blank, a combined treadle-actuated lever and cam member adapted in a single operative movement to move in successive sequence the edge-folding mechanism into folding position and to depress said control lever, means for automatically and releasably engaging one of said control members to retain both of the same in operative position, and means for manually releasing said automatic releasable member to permit movement of the parts to a normal inoperative position.

8. A fabric edge-folding and pressing machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the operating lever for the pressing mechanism is automatically and releasably engaged to retain the parts in pressing position, and a manually actuated depressible rod extending to the upper surface of the machine and operable to release said lever and to permit automatic movement Aof the parts into normal inoperative position.

9. A fabric edge-folding and pressing machine including clamping means for a work-blank, edge-folding means for said blank, a pressing plate supported in horizontal position in said machine and means for moving said pressing plate into pressing position comprising an operating lever for said pressing element pivoted intermediate its ends to provide a power arm and a power-applying arm, said power-applying arm having an upright element engageable with the pressing plate at a single point comprising the axial center of said pressing plate` DAVID GOIDBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,317,817 Silverman Apr. 27, 1943 2,394,219 Vachon Feb. 5, 1946 

